Roberta Sturlese (XX Secolo) - Outdoor sculpture, Maschera Antroporfa "L'Ombra dell'Antico" – Eleganza Primitiva per Interni Mediterranei - Opera - 30 cm - Terracotta - 1990

Imagine a seaside home, where sunlight caresses whitewashed walls, terracotta floors, and raw-wood furnishings. It is in this very setting that the 1990 sculpture by artist Roberta Sturlese finds its perfect place, becoming the visual focal point of the space.This work of art, created in 1990, blends the expressive power of ancient West African ceremonial masks with the delicacy of the European ceramic tradition. Its stylized features, slit eyes, and elaborate geometric coiffure evoke the forms of Punu culture, reinterpreted through an earthy, luminous texture. The material’s warm, sandy tones call to mind the stone of Mediterranean shores, dry-stone walls, and sun-baked earth.

This wall sculpture is not simply a decorative object, but a signed work of art that captures the eye, able to break up contemporary minimalism and complement natural fabrics such as linen and rope. A timeless work that brings the allure of eclectic collecting into today’s interiors, ideal for anyone wishing to enrich their home with a unique piece full of character and history.


TECHNICAL DETAILS AND COMPOSITION
- TECHNIQUE: Hand-modelled terracotta sculpture.
- FINISH: Ivory patina with a light-slip textured finish.
- DIMENSIONS: [Insert Height] x [Insert Width] x [Insert Depth] cm
- INSCRIPTIONS: The artist’s authentic signature incised into the clay on the back in uppercase block letters: "STURLESE ROBERTA".
- CONDITION: Excellent state of preservation. The work is intact, with no restorations, cracks, or structural fissures.
- PROVENANCE: Private collection, Liguria (Italy

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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Roberta Sturlese, born and active in the evocative artistic district of the Gulf of Poets (La Spezia), is now considered by art critics to be one of the most promising figures in contemporary clay sculpture. Rooted in Liguria’s millennia-old ceramic and sculptural tradition, Sturlese has made her mark on the independent art scene with a highly personal and evocative style.

Her artistic career has recently received definitive critical recognition in the region with the awarding of the prestigious "Special Jury Prize at the Gulf Biennale of Artistic Craftsmanship," an accolade highlighting her extraordinary ability to innovate in terracotta sculpture. Her works, rigorously created as unique pieces that cannot be reproduced in series, are currently attracting growing interest among elite collectors, drawn to the totemic power and handcrafted authenticity of her creations.